Four years after his last victory, F1 misses Daniel Ricciardo’s trademark smile
Daniel Ricciardo's extraordinary character is one that F1 misses, and one who achieved his final victory in the sport four years ago today.
The more I travel, the more I recognise I am drawn to the styles of each place. I guess you could say I dress to the setting and go with the flow.- Daniel Ricciardo to GQ Australia
On 12 September, 2021, Ricciardo crossed the finish line in first place at Monza. That was his last shoey celebration on the podium.
By the time of last year’s Singapore Grand Prix, after failing to earn a promotion back to Red Bull Racing, the writing was on the wall for the Australian.
Amid rumours about his future, he left the sport with a final gift, setting the fastest lap of the race, removing one point from Lando Norris' tally to help Max Verstappen win the title.
"The greatest thing about my days now is not having a schedule," he told GQ Australia earlier this year, as he relishes his freedom away from F1.
Now, Ricciardo has settled into his life off the track, having ruled out a return as a driver. He sponsors Racing Bulls’ F1 Academy entry through his brand, Enchanté, and recently became a brand ambassador for Ford Racing.
Ricciardo's universal appeal
Ricciardo has a contagious smile that reaches every fan, no matter who they support.
His trademark playfulness remains to this day. "I’ve been trying to figure out who I am other than this race car driver. I’ve had a lot of time, I’ve done some hiking. I was in Alaska a few weeks ago and didn’t get mauled by a grizzly which was a bonus," he joked on the Ray White Connect conference.
Formula 1 is built not only on rivalries but also on friendships. Ricciardo was able to drive these storylines in a funny but relatable way.
His close relationships with other drivers have also been invaluable. Bringing the best out of current protagonists like Verstappen and Norris brought them closer to fans.
These interactions are essential to Formula 1's success, and the Australian is to this day very marketable with his intriguing personality.
Ricciardo’s personality key in F1’s US expansion
He has shown an ability to embrace cultures around the world, particularly in the US, where F1 is aiming to grow its viewership
"The more I travel though, the more I recognise I am drawn to the styles of each place. For example, I really lean into boots when I am in Texas. I guess you could say I dress to the setting and go with the flow.," he said.
Ricciardo could bring the competition closer to fans of other sports. Rocking a Texas Longhorns helmet, or showing continuous support for Josh Allen's Buffalo Bills, he could subconsciously blend the sport with popular fan bases in the US.
His personality was a good way to get more fans in the door. While he was not fighting for championships, the competition needs unanimously well-liked characters.
Will we see more of Ricciardo?
What we know is that Ricciardo is welcomed back at any time in the paddock. His former team boss, Laurent Mekies has already said so when talking about the Aussie's potential return through his role at Ford.
Off the track, Ricciardo can still bring Formula 1 closer to the fans. There were talks of a Hulu series called 'Downforce,' but the project will not go forward on the streaming platform. Based on the success of the 'F1' movie, the competition could reap the rewards if he still has these ambitions.
Should he decide to make a switch to broadcasting, he would also be a valuable asset to any channel thanks to his chemistry with the drivers, which would likely create some memorable moments as well. We will have to see what is next for the Australian, but for the time being, he's sorely missed by F1.
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